IPSA-Concordia Summer School in Applied Diplomacy

Montreal is home to over 70 International Organizations (IOs), including IPSA and the only UN agency in Canada (the International Civil Aviation Organization) and has a very active consular corp. Furthermore, it is situated close to Ottawa, Canada’s capital, making it easy for ambassadors and global affairs experts to participate in the Summer Institute.

We invite all graduate students, young researchers and professionals to participate in the upcoming IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy.

Academic Leaders

• Dr. Elizabeth Bloodgood, Professor of Political Science, Concordia, Dr. Kim Fontaine-Skronski, Executive Director, IPSA

Educational program

The IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy course objective is to combine theory and practice by prominent scholars and diplomats, for the benefit of the participants from around the world.

Students will attend two (2) or three (3) classes per day at the Concordia University downtown campus, combining discussion of the theory and practice of diplomacy as it has changed over time, complemented with a practical hands-on Diplomacy Lab to collaborate on actual case studies as teams. The best Diplomacy Lab team will get a free one-year IPSA student membership.

Course Outline

• Introduction: The Evolution of Diplomacy
• Diplomacy in International Relations Theory
• Traditional Diplomacy – States, International Organizations
• Changing Diplomacy – Agencies, Non-State Actors
• International Negotiations, Past and Present
• Digital Diplomacy
• Municipal Diplomacy
• Trade Negotiations
• International Law and Norms of Diplomacy
• Environmental Negotiations
• Scientific Diplomacy
• Arctic Diplomacy
• Indigenous Diplomacy

The language of instruction is English but written assignments can be submitted in either French or English. In 2024, students registered for academic credit will participate in person while international auditors will attend remotely via Zoom.

Educational Field Trips

• Global Affairs Canada
  A field trip to Ottawa, the nation’s capital, will be organized to meet with Canadian government officials at Global Affairs Canada.
• ICAO
  Students will also meet leaders of Montréal-based International Civil Aviation Organization as well as participate in networking events with diplomats and government officials.

Please note that students need to be double vaccinated to participate in the field trips and be compliant with Quebec’s health guidelines.

Speakers

A sample of speakers from last year's summer school

• Dr. Elizabeth Bloodgood, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Concordia University
• Dr. Bob Reinalda, Fellow and Senior Researcher at Radboud University, Nijmegen, NL
• Mr. Jess Dutton, Director General, Middle East, Global Affairs Canada and Former Canadian Ambassador to Egypt
• Dr. Natalia Grincheva, Senior Lecturer, Programme Leader, BA Arts Management, LASALLE College of the Arts & Senior Research Fellow (Honorary), School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne
• H.E. Alejandro Estivill, Consul General in Montreal, Mexico
• Mr. Henri-Paul Normandin, Former Director, International Relations Bureau, City of Montreal, and Fellow at the Institut d’études internationales de Montréal (IEIM)
• Dr. Nicole de Silva, Assistant Professor, Political Science Academic Director, Political Science Co-op Program, Concordia University
• Mr. Pierre Marier, Director, Tariffs and Goods Market Access, Global Affairs Canada
• Ms. Nadine Nickner, Director, Government Procurement, Trade and Environment Division, Global Affairs Canada
• Dr. Corneliu Bjola, Associate Professor of Diplomatic Studies, University of Oxford
• Mr. Kyle Matthews, Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) at Concordia University
• Ms. Sarah Cox, Director, Circumpolar Affairs & Head of Delegation, SDWG, Arctic Council, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
• Mr. Sean Clark, Director, Trade Agreements Secretariat, Global Affairs Canada
• Dr. Philippe-André Rodriguez, Deputy Director, Centre for International Digital Policy, Global Affairs Canada
• Dr. Jean-Christophe Mauduit, Lecturer in Science Diplomacy at University College London (UCL) in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP)
• Dr. Jean-Christian Lemay, Research and Innovation Attaché at the Québec Government Office in London
• Admiral Lutz Feldt, Vice Admiral (ret) of the German Navy, president of EuroDefense Germany
• Dr. Mathieu Denis, Science Director, International Science Council (ISC)
• Sir Peter Gluckman, Chair, International Network on Government Science Advice (INGSA)
• Dr. Kim Fontaine-Skronski, Affiliated Professor, Department of Political Science, Concordia University, and Executive Director, IPSA
• Mr. Don Stephenson, Former Canadian Ambassador to the WTO
• Mr. Nabil Naoumi, Former President Air Navigation Commission, ICAO

How to apply

Applications are due by 5 May 2024.

In your application, please provide:

• Your name, university, country, email address and telephone number.
• A letter of intent (1000 words maximum), that responds to these questions:
  • Why are you interested in attending the IPSA-Concordia Summer School in Applied Diplomacy this summer?
  • What previous experience or preparation have you had in the area of diplomacy, both practical and academic?

The school is also available for young professionals working in governmental and non-governmental agencies.

For your application to be complete, you must submit the following:

• your letter of intent answering the above questions
• an unofficial transcript from your current program or most recent degree
• your CV
• a referee's contact information (email/telephone#) who can speak to your academic experience.